WD97: Tables Appear Incomplete in File Open Preview

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

Templates and documents that contain tables may appear incomplete in the preview area of the Open dialog box (on the File menu, click Open, and then click the Preview button on the toolbar).

One of the following symptoms may occur:

• The table is truncated on the left edge, right edge or the bottom.
• The preview area appears blank.
• A series of random table borders are displayed.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the document or template has been saved with the Save Preview Picture check box selected (on the File menu, click Properties).

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, turn off the Save Preview Picture property for the document, by following these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Properties.

2. Click to clear the Save Preview Picture check box, and then click OK.

3. Save the document.

MORE INFORMATION

You must set the Save Preview Picture property individually for each document. The Save Preview Picture property is a document property, and not a global or "sticky" property of Microsoft Word. This property is off by default.

If you set the Save Preview Picture property, Word saves a graphic image of the first full-page in the file header. Word then shows this image in the preview area of the Open dialog box.

If you do not set the Save Preview Picture property, Word reads the document, and displays the upper-left corner of the document in the preview area. It takes Word longer to do this than to display a saved preview picture.

For more information about the Save Preview Picture property, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q182726
   TITLE     : WD97: Save Preview Picture Setting Is Document Specific